The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-08-13
FALLING!
OVER $50 DEAD BODIES
Have Been Taken from the Ruins
ut ChatswOrth.
Evidence Accumulating in Favor
Of the Theory
That the Disaster was the Work
Of Fiendish Train Wrcckers.
Hcartrending Scenes and Incl.
dents About the Wreck n
That Caused Strong Men to Weep
s5 for Pity.
Many Of the Injured will Proba.
bly, Die,
And Add to the Already Lengthy
z Death Roll.
The Dead and Wounded are
Robbed by Ghoals.
And Add to the Already Lengthy
Death Roll.
The Dead and Wounded are
Robbed by Gh0uls.
Criminal Negligence Of Officials,
Developments at the Inquest.

Criminal Negligence OF Officials.
Developments at the Inquest.
: CuATswoRTH, ILL.,, August Eat Z
o'clock this morning, Master Mechanic
Warren with a wreckipg train and large
force Of men were at the scene Of the
railroad disaster.
Mr.. Warren was confident that the
track would be cleared for trains by noon.
They were certain that all bodies had been
removed from the wreck.
A special car, with officials Of the Wa
bash road, reached the wreck early this
morning, and they tendersd. tho use OF
their wrecking outfit aud as well, offered
to be Of any eervice possible. The Illinois
Central also offered any required assist
ance, but Mr.. Warren said he thought his
present equipment would enable him to
clear the track. {
President Leonard, Superintendent
Armstrong. and other Toledo, Peoria &:
Western officials were aeen this morning.
They hays given devoted attention to the
relief OF the injured and care OF the dead
Both show signs OF the terrible shock
which the accident han been to thsn.
President Leonard said that 80 far as the
railroad officials could estimate, there were
about eighty killed and one hundred sesi-
ously wounded. There are many who
were slightly injured, OF whom no record
has been obtained. A list Is being com
piled in the Peoria Offices OF the company.
Mr.. Leonerd said that as near as he
could ASCERTAIN the train was making about
thirty miles an hour at the time Of the &C.
cident, not an excessive rate OF speed, as
the track was in good condition. The
bridge, an ordinary fiiteen.foot wooden
structure, was all right at fvs O'CLOCK in
the afternoon when train passed over it,
and half an hour later the section men in
spected it, under orders, il advance OF the
excursion train. 1t was all right then;
'-S. AS TO THE I1AgILlrY
Of the company or future OF the road,
President Leonard could not cay. The
first thing the officials will do will be to
devote their attention to the caro- Of the
unfortunate victime. Twas blow which
would of course be most serious 10 the
road, but that was as nothing COM
pared with the death and injury oil human
beings. Mr.. Leonard said he could in all
conscience say that his believed the road
had provided every reasonable and cus-
tomsry safeguard. u,
with the consent OF the Coroner, Pfesi.
dent Leonard has arranged that all uu.
claimed bodies will be cared for, washed
and placed in cofiins and conveyed to
Peoria, where, with al their effects, they
will await identification. The bodies will
be kept there as long as possible, and then
If not identified, will be inferred.
President Leonard and Superintendent
Armstrong went to Piper City this morn
ing to care for the wounded there. The
Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners
arc in few days to investigate the aCci-
dent. Az several desired ,witneases have
not yet arrived, it is not expected the
Coroner will complete his hearing till
late this afternoon. j M IS 4 (.
The estimates OF dead to-day are about
the came as the figures sent lpat night.
The Coroner's list, revised, up to tho time
the inquest was resumed to-day, foots up
seyenty.six. Notwithstanding contrary
opinions expressed by tho railroad ofIici.
ais, survey OF the wreck early to-day
confirmed the belief that several bodies
are still under the debris OF the smashed
engines and cars. The report yesterday
that twenty, dead were st Piper City was
denied this morning by the President oil
the road. Three or four OF the wounded
carried to Piper City yesterday died there
however, so that with the seyenty-six on
tho Coroner's list hero and those supposed
to be yet under the wreck, the estimate OIL
eighty-iour deaths appear 10 be very cloae
to the actual number. Il, y. 4 '. s. Z
{i THE HORRORS OF THE WRECK
seemed deepening this morning instead
Of lesseniug. Added to the pitiabls spec.
tacle Of the dead and tho miseyies Of the
dying, . stencil, sickeningly foul; was ia
suing from all the numerous places where
tho corpaes Of the victims yet remained
No picture Of the horrible occurrences i'm.
medietely succeeding the accident could
eaualin revolving details the scene at the
Toledo, Peoria &'Western depot here to
day. Pho west and Of the little structure
is q coal house and lumber room. where
promiscnouely stretched on tho floor In
the coal and rubbish were seven unident
lifted bodies. Blood.etained, bedragglet
sheets and blankets were thrown loossl,
over each, but afforded little protection
from the swarm Of flies which were con
tinuously lowering over them.
The awful odor emanatiug from thu
hodles eaeptually kept the room clear, 0
all hit the hardest Of the Htill lingering
anxious or curious crowds. Tive OF tn
| victims wore women, and the sight 0
their faces vas one never to be forgotten
Sensational features were developed TIL
morning Us TO the cause OF the wreck
Rumors wore slloRt last night that it wa
duo to robbers who fred the bridge, bu
little credence was given them. Tnl
morning new facts, apparently shown
the catastrophe to be SEs II a.
TIE WORK Oh. AN, ORGANIZED BAND 81.
came to light. and the company find ther
worthy Of serious investigation. supsrir
tsndent Armstrong said to tho Associate
!; Press reporter that the more he invest
gated the moro 1t appeared to him that th
bridge had .hesn Get on fro. The burne
GRASP In its immediate locality was not {
4 nature that seemed likely 70 admit !